Dems To Outnumber GOP Among Florida Hispanics

By William March, Tampa Tribune

May 6, 2008

According to figures supplied by the Florida Democratic Party, based on information obtained from the state Division of Elections, Democrats now outnumber Republicans among Florida Hispanic voters-a symbolic indication of a major demographic shift in the state.

Republicans didn't dispute the figures Tuesday, but did question their significance, saying Hispanic Republicans are more faithful, regular voters, and that their outreach programs are aimed at reversing the trend.

The change hasn't yet shown up in official figures released monthly from the Division of Elections. The division provides the monthly reports on voter registration statewide, but only to the state parties.

However, a compilation of past monthly figures by the state Democratic Party shows a gradual and steady increase in Democratic and no-party or minor party registration among Florida Hispanics, and a corresponding decrease in Republican registration, since 2006.

The April report shows the two parties virtually tied-35.30 percent for Democrats and 35.32 percent for Republicans-making it inevitable that next month's report will show Democrats edging ahead, said state Democratic Party spokesman Mark Bubriski.

According to figures Bubriski provided from those monthly reports back to January, 2006:

-- Since then, Democrats increased from 33.27 percent to 35.3 percent on the April report. The increase sped up during this calendar year, jumping from 33.89 percent to 35.3 percent since January, 2008.

-- In the same period, no-party and minor party voters increased from 28.49 percent to 29.39 percent.

-- Republicans declined from 38.24 percent to 35.32 percent.

Bubriski said information the party received from elections supervisors in some counties with large Hispanic populations indicates the trend will continue through the May report, putting Democrats slightly ahead.

Nationwide, Hispanics tend to lean Democratic. Florida has been the exception because of its large, GOP-oriented, anti-Castro Cuban community in South Florida-known for their unusually strong voter turnout.

Recently, however, an influx of non-Cuban Hispanics, particularly Democratic-leaning Puerto Ricans, has gradually increased the Democrats' percentage of Florida Hispanics.

It's been widely reported that Democrats won the Hispanic vote in Florida for the first time in 2006-a year when Democrats substantially outpolled Republicans overall.

Responded state GOP spokeswoman Erin VanSickle: "The Republican Party is actively reaching out to Hispanics and registering them to vote versus spending our time sending out a press release touting that we have a few hundred more voters than the other party does." She said the GOP will continue attracting Hispanics because, "We share the same values: a strong family, hard work, and personal freedom."

This weekend, the state party will feature Sen. Mel Martinez, Gov. Charlie Crist, outgoing state House Speaker Marco Rubio and U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez at an Hispanic Republican Leadership Conference, part of a new minority outreach effort by the party.